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Topic: gemzar and cisplatin together

Hello,I had a question regarding these two drugs working together like the Breaking News story says when you first log onto the site. Has anyone been treated with these two together and seen good results? My brother, recently diagnosed has just started on these two, once a week for two weeks in a row and then one week off. Any input would be great.thanks!

Re: gemzar and cisplatin together

My Mom (77) was on both when she was diagnosed at stage IV with mets to the lungs. She went every two weeks for chemo and did I think 6 rounds. Later the doctors added Nexavar and Xeloda.

I firmly believe it gave her much more time. She was diagnosed in May 2008 and died April 3, 2009. Her prognosis with stage IV mets would usually be 6 to 8 months. She was able to dance at her Granddaughters' wedding in December and see the birth of her second great grandchild in October.

She tolerated both extremely well with only some "cold neuropathy" that lasted two days after the chemo. (This annoyed her since she wasn't able to have her milkshake on those days!) She had no nausea or any other side effects from the drugs.

I hope your brother does well and want to warmly welcome both of you to the site. You can also use the search engine on the site to query other posts.

I'm sorry you had to find us but you will find amazing information and the most caring and compasssionate people in the world on this site.

Hugs!Pam

My Mom lost her one year battle with CC on April 3, 2009.

"A prognosis is simply an audit of how truly precious each day is. Live each day to the maximum, celebrate what was, and what is - Don't spend your life looking forward to what will or might be." .... words of wisdom from my beloved son on hearing of his grandmother's CC prognosis.

Re: gemzar and cisplatin together

Thanks for your response. My bro is only 46 and he was recently diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma with masses on his liver biggest being 7 cm. and some smaller ones. It has also spread to his spine. He had two sessions of chemo so far so this is all pretty new. He has responded fairly well but very tired. thanks for the welcome and I have become a frequent reader and probably now a poster!

Re: gemzar and cisplatin together

alleycatty: welcome and I happy to hear that you have become a poster. The abstract of the above news flash regarding the two drugs working in combination for advanced CC will be presented at the upcoming ASCO, the end of this month. I will post anything, pertaining to this break-through. At this time there has not been any clarification as to what the criteria is such as, mestastases, size of tumors, etc. I would however, make sure that the oncologist treating your brother is aware of the newest development.

THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED NOR IMPLIED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER

Re: gemzar and cisplatin together

Hi Alleycattty - I'm 43 and was on Gem/Cis for about 5 rounds last year. It didn't cause any shrinkage but my tumors didn't progress. The tumors remained stable enough that I was able to have resection surgery this past February. I am currently on Gem/Cis for clean up chemo. I mainly am tired from the chemo, have had no major nausea, nothing compazine and zofran can't handle. I've had to get injections to boost my white blood cell count and my rbc count. But my numbers always bounce back in time for the next round. My best to your brother, tell him to hang in there and stay strong!

Re: gemzar and cisplatin together

I am also 46 and was diagnosed with Stage IV in December 2008 with mestastisis to my spine and liver. I did 3 weeks of radiation for the tumor on my spine. I have been doing gemzar since January. I plan on talking to my oncologist about adding cisplatin when I see him later this month. Best wishes for your brother's treatment.

Re: gemzar and cisplatin together

Gemzar (gemcitabine) + cisplatin: I was on this combination for several months last year and had a good response; shrinkage and stabilization of all lesions (7 of them!), enough to perform radiofrequency ablation. Read Marion's post about this elsewhere on this site. They are discovering that gemzar + cisplatin works far more effectively in combination than either drug given alone. It is also becoming common to add a third drug to this combo, like Avastin (bevacizumab) or Tarceva (erlotinib).

Anyone out there who is on Gemzar alone, ask your onco about combining it with cisplatin!

Re: gemzar and cisplatin together

Hi Marion - better late reply than never right? I was diagnosed with intrahepatic cc in July of 2008. Failed resection in August 2008, started Gem/Cis in September 2008. Had successful resection in Feb 2009. On my last round of Gem/Cis clean up chemo, feeling Ok so far. I have new scans scheduled for next week. Here's hoping and praying!

Re: gemzar and cisplatin together

Hi All,

I am 37yrs old and have stage IV intrahepatic CC. They tried me on gem only for 3 mths. Didn't really work. On Thursday this week they will start me on the combo of gem/cis. I have been getting radiation on this week o the tumor they found on my pelvic bone. They told me surgery is no longer an option. I have to ask - has anyone been at stage IV and then after chemo treatments been able to have surgery? I need a miracle - we all need a miracle!

Re: gemzar and cisplatin together

Hi Mel;Yes I was diagnosed Oct 07 with Stage 4 intrahepatic cc. I had an open and close surgery and was told resection was not an option. Started Gemzar/Xeloda in Nov 07. I had a resection in June 08. You can do a search of my previous posts to see whole story. Don't give up. Miracles do happen. I had clear scans up until this June. I am back on chemo and battling this monster again. I am not giving up. Don't you. Where are you getting your treatments? Take care and God Bless,Jamie

Re: gemzar and cisplatin together

Thank you so much Jamie!! I needed to hear that.

I am being treated at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. It is Canada's cancer hospital. They are excellent, but I feel the need for more aggressive treatments. I just want to get rid of this cancer.

Re: gemzar and cisplatin together

Hi Marion,

I am being treated at Princess Margaret Hospital. They are wonderful, and really know their stuff. I feel the need to be more aggressive right now in my treatment as I feel healthy and feel I could take on a little more "punishment". I have found that MD Anderson is performing treatment with proton beam therapy and chemo together. I am going to contact them to see if they can do anything for me - the problem with living in Canada is our health system. They are very conservative in what they spend money on. I believe the only place with a proton beam in canada is the university of BC and they are only treating patients with ocular cancer at the moment.

Re: gemzar and cisplatin together

I do not know about the study that came out of the UK, but I had both chemicals on day 1, only one on day 8, and neither on day 15 of a 21-day (3 week) cycle. On the days when I had both, I was usually at the hospital about 5 hours, but on the day when I only had 1 chemical, I was usually done in about 2 hours or less. I was on Gemzar and Cisplatin for both series of chemo (July 07 to Jan 08 and Sept. 08 to Dec. 08.) Chemicals did what they were supposed to do. I'm currently in remission. Had CT scan last week, saw oncologist yesterday, Jus come ba ck in about 2 months for follow-up).

Re: gemzar and cisplatin together

Hello, all! My father is 70 and was diagnosed with Stage IV in May 09. He had mets to the liver and lungs. He did 6 treatments of Gemzar/Xeloda, and it not only didn't get better but had spread to his spine. He has now had two treatments of oxalyplatin/5-FU. We approached his Dr about the Gemzar/Cisplatin combo, and she said he is "too weak" to try it. Is the Gemzar/Cisplatin really that much more brutal than what he's already been on?

Re: gemzar and cisplatin together

I was diagnosed in June with Stage 4, Intraheptatic CC, no certain mets determined. Had first appointment at MDA with Dr. Javle Aug. 3. I had first gem/cis treatment last Thursday, Aug. 6. I'm on a schedule for same treatment every 2 weeks for 6 treatments. Will have CT after 4th treatment at which time a decision to adjust the treatment could occur.

For now the gem is 1020 mg over 60 minutes. Cis is 51 mg over 60 minutes. The total time was nearly 6 hours because of the fluids required for flushing...for 4 hours before the chemo started. I have had some mild reactions, but it is day 9 and I have felt very good for 3 days.

Thanks for all the wonderful information I have found here. It is very encouraging to read your post, Jamie. It seems I have the same type of Cho you have. I pray for the remission you experienced and that you may experience it again!

Re: gemzar and cisplatin together

Julie,

I'm not sure brutal is the right word, but I had asked my oncologist for an aggressive treatment, and this combination was her answer. It did have side effects and there were times we postponed a treatment or cycle, but it worked! Yes, it was hard on the blood, my energy level, when I had a urinary tract infection while I had pneumonia, I had to be in hospital 8 days, chemo was delayed, and even after I went home, I had IV antibiotics. So brutal may be right.

But there are no guarantees, so your Dad needs to make his own decisions as long as he wants to.

Re: gemzar and cisplatin together

mimi9999 wrote:

I was diagnosed in June with Stage 4, Intraheptatic CC, no certain mets determined. Had first appointment at MDA with Dr. Javle Aug. 3. I had first gem/cis treatment last Thursday, Aug. 6. I'm on a schedule for same treatment every 2 weeks for 6 treatments. Will have CT after 4th treatment at which time a decision to adjust the treatment could occur.

For now the gem is 1020 mg over 60 minutes. Cis is 51 mg over 60 minutes. The total time was nearly 6 hours because of the fluids required for flushing...for 4 hours before the chemo started. I have had some mild reactions, but it is day 9 and I have felt very good for 3 days.

Thanks for all the wonderful information I have found here. It is very encouraging to read your post, Jamie. It seems I have the same type of Cho you have. I pray for the remission you experienced and that you may experience it again!

Hi Mimi;Just want to say welcome. Keep us posted how you are doing. Feel free to email me. I will pray for your remission as well. One thing I think is important is to try and keep your body as healthy as possible with this. Also, look into milk thistle seeds as they help with liver health. Anything I can so just let me know. I'll be praying for you that you have good results when you get your scan and few side effects from the chemo. Take care and God Bless,Jamie

Re: gemzar and cisplatin together

Hello Mimi....I would also like to welcome you to our site. Thank you for sharing the valuable information regarding your infusions. Good luck and I am looking forward to hearing positive results.Marion

THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED NOR IMPLIED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER

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